History suggests lopsided game in Gator opener

By Rob Gantt The Gazette

Chuck Reedy and the Goose Creek coaching staff says all the right stuff about Ashley Ridge:That the Foxes will play hard.That they will put up a tough fight.That the Foxes have a chance to win on Friday night when the Gators roll into The Swamp, winners of 40 of their last 42 games.History suggests the Foxes really have no chance to win at all. In the only three meetings between the two schools, Goose Creek has outscored Ashley Ridge 169-22, including last season's 48-16 romp at John Fulmer Field.A year ago, the Gators raced to a 34-0 lead 14 minutes in and coasted. The two games prior were also walks in the park for Goose Creek, 65-3 and 56-3. “Offensively, this is the best preseason we've had since I've been here,” Reedy said. “Defensively, we're still getting everything sorted out. I think it's a group that will get better as the season goes on.”The game will be at Ashley Ridge, which generally has a lot of energy in the stadium because of a very supportive student section. Gators defensive coordinator Chris Candor figures the Foxes feel they can move the ball better in this matchup because of Goose Creek's loss of three Division I players on his side of the ball.“They try to spread you out and get you in a position where you've got to tackle in space and that's been a point of concern for us,” Candor said. “We have been inconsistent (over the summer). They did lose some of their key guys, like Romeo Doctor, but it looks like they have some capable replacements.”Stopping the Gators is a different matter, though. Georgia Tech commitment Caleb Kinlaw is back for Goose Creek and junior quarterback Dantez Bennamon is another shifty weapon. And also Sertoma seems to show Deondre Daniels can be a playmaker at Tramel Terry's old spot.Last season, Kinlaw rushed for 128 yards and scored three times against Ashley Ridge.Doctor, an eventual Shrine Bowl selection, did most of the damage for the Foxes, rushing for 140 yards.“I think right now our confidence level is high and we expect to win (when we play),” Reedy said. “A lot of guys that will line up against Ashley Ridge have never lost a football game as varsity players.”For more information on both teams, please see our annual football edition in PDF form on our website.

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